Most jails only allow you to leave a message for an inmate in case of a serious emergency such as a death in the family.

Other than for a family emergency, the only way to communicate with an inmate is by them phoning you, leaving you an email message using the jail's secure (and closely monitored) electronic message system, mail or during a visit.

Many jails are now contracting with a third party service (for a fee) which allows you to leave a recorded phone message for an inmate.

To see if the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center has this service, go here or call 215-685-7104.

Almost every jail, including Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center, will allow inmates to contact pre-approved friends and family members' phones by calling collect.

This is typically the most expensive way to contact people by phone and in many cases, it requires credit approval or a deposit to be made into a third-party phone company account through a contract with the jail.

Direct Calls

Many jails are now contracting with a third party service (for a fee) that is less expensive and allows your inmate to use their phone system to make direct calls to your land line or cell phone.

No. Inmates are not allowed cell phones in Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center, although getting access to a cell phone in jail has become more common.

Some states such as California have made it a criminal offense to use and possess a cell phone and will file additional charges when it can be connected to an inmate. Cell phones are most often smuggled into the jail and then sold to the inmates by jail staff.

A growing number of jails now offer email services to inmates and their families. This can save you time by letting you view your email from your smart phone, computer, or tablet, whenever you wish.

You don't have to deal with envelopes, stamps or the post office.

Inmates like it because the emails typically eliminate delayed mail runs so they can get your correspondence quickly and send responses immediately.

Jail staffs like it as it eliminates concerns about contraband entering the facility in envelopes and on paper. It also allows the jail to have an electronic record that can be called upon at any time.

Anything you or your inmate writes in an email service is put through a filtering program that looks for certain words related to criminal and/or gang activities.

There have been multiple cases in which emails between inmates and their friends or loved ones have been used as evidence in criminal court cases to convict them or to file new charges.

Call 215-685-7104 or click here to see if email services are being offered at this jail and if so, how to sign up you and your inmate.

If you were unable to find the information you were looking for on this page, call Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center at 215-685-7104 and ask their policies on getting phone calls from your inmate.

Many jails and prisons are increasingly restricting the amount of time that an inmate can use the phone by placing daily and monthly limits, so try to pace yourself and not use up all your time at the beginning of the month.

Jails limit an inmate's phone time to certain hours of the day, so it is important you keep a regular schedule that works for both you and your inmate.

If your inmate does not call you during the time you both have scheduled, don't panic. There are often long lines for phone use. When a jail is on lockdown due to a fight or other security issue they do not allow the phones to be used.

Phones are the only way for an inmate to hear your voice and temporarily 'escape' the loneliness of incarceration, so use your time well. Arguing about anything will leave you both feeling empty and guilty, so avoid it at all costs.

All phone conversations are recorded. Whatever you talk about, can and will be used against your inmate in court. Never discuss their pending criminal case!